Hook-off device for wells



CK. 15, 1935. J. ADKlNs 2,017,174

'HOOK-OFF DEVICE FOR WELLS Filed Feb. 25, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet l IIHII! IIIIIH i N x l I l: E Q

Inventor Get. 15, 1935.

HOOK-OFF DEVICE FOR WELLS Filed Feb. 25, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 2 /260602? Jfldifz'na T. J. ADKINS 2,017,174

Inventor HOOK-OFF DEVICE FOR WELLS Filed Feb. 25, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Inventor flammizu Attorney Patented Oct. 15, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in oil well pumping apparatus of the type including a jack which is connected by a power line to a source of power at a remote point on the surface and has for its primary object to provide, in. a manner as hereinafter set forth, novel means for automatically hookingoff or disconnecting the jack from the power when the well pumps off or should the pump fail to load with oil from any cause.

Another important object of the invention is to provide an automatic hook-off device of the aforementioned character which may be expeditiously adjusted to meet the various conditions,

5 such as different depths of. fluid in the well.

Other objects of the invention. are to provide an automatic hook-01f device of the character described which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, highly efficient and 29 reliable in operation, compact, and which may be manufactured and installed at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification,

taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in top plan of an automatic hook-off device constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a view in vertical longitudinal section through the invention.

Figure 3 is an end elevational view with portions broken away in section.

Figure 4 is a. detail view in perspective of the slide constituting a part of the pawl releasing mechanism.

Figure 5 is a view in horizontal section through one end portion of the device, taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a view in bottom plan of portions of. the reciprocating sleeve and the bar which is mounted therein.

45 Figure 7 is a detail view in top plan of the inner end portion of the reciprocating sleeve.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises a support- 50 ing structure which is designated generally by the reference numeral 1, said supporting structure including a base frame 2 which is to be firmly anchored to a suitable foundation in any suitable manner. Rigidly secured in the corners of the 5 base frame 2 and rising therefrom are substantially channel-shaped posts 3 between the tops of which transverse bars 4 extend. Side plates 5 extend longitudinally between the posts 3.

The substantially channel-shaped posts 3 constitute guides in which transverse blocks 6 are mounted for vertical sliding movement. Upper guide rollers I are journaled in the lower portions of the blocks 6. The blocks 6, with the upper guide rollers i thereon, are yieldingly urged downwardly by coil springs 8 the tension of which i o may be regulated as desired through the medium of adjusting'screws 9 which are threadedly mounted in the transverse bars 4. Lock nuts W are' provided for securing the screws 9 in adjusted position. The reference numeral II designatesa pair is of lower guide rollers which are mounted transversely between the pairs of posts 3.

Mounted for reciprocation between the upper and lower rollers l and II which are adjacent the well is a sleeve l2 of polygonal cross section which is connected by a clevis 13 to the rod line I l which extends to the pump jack. Slidably engaged in the sleeve I2 is a bar or rod 15, also of polygonal cross section, which is connected by a clevis IE to the power line I! from the source of power. At an intermediate point, the rod l5 has depending therefrom a hook l8 which is operable in a slot 59 which is provided therefor in the inner end portion of the sleeve l2. A hook 20 depends from the inner end portion of the sleeve l2 through which the slot l9 extends. The reference numeral 2| designates a pin which is inserted between the hooks l8 and 20 for connecting the sleeve l2 to the rod H: for actuation thereby in one direction. As illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings, the pin engaging faces or surfaces of the hooks I8 and 20 are inclined in opposite directions to retain the pin 2! in position. Rising from the inner end portion of the sleeve I2 is a single catch'or ratchet tooth 22 the purpose of which will be presently set forth.

The side plates 5 of the supporting structure i are provided with a plurality of openings 23 in which. transverse rods 24 are selectively insertable. Resting for longitudinal movement on the rods 24 is' a slide 25 having formed on one end a depending cam 26 providing a shoulder 21. The cam 25 rides on one of the rods 24.

The reference numeral 28 designates a pawl which is mounted for swinging movement in a vertical plane between the side plates 5 above the sleeve l2. The pawl 28 is provided with a lifting handle 29. A trigger 33 is pivotally mounted, at an intermediate point, between the side plates 5, one end of said trigger being engageable with the free end of the pawl 28 for releasably securing said pawl in raised or inoperative position. A,

7 with a transverse recess 38 which accommodates the pin 2!. I Briefly, the operation of the lows:- On the power stroke the sleeve l2 and the rod I5 moves from left to right in Figure 2 of the device is as fol drawings, these members being operatively con-.

nected by the pin 2|. On the return stroke, when the traveling valve of the pump strikes the fluid in the working barrel the power line slackens, thus permitting the springs 8 to push the members l2 and I5 downwardly in a manner to cause the tooth 22 to avoid the shoulder 21 provided by the cam 23. However, shouldthe traveling valve of the pump fail to strike the fluid the tooth 22, on the returnstroke, willengage the shoulder 21 provided by the cam 26 and carry the slide 25 with the sleeve l2, thus actuating the trigger 33 against the tension of the spring 34 through the medium of the adjustable rod 36 for releasing'the pawl 28. The pawl 28 drops by gravity into the path of the-ratchet tooth 22 and engages said ratchet tooth in a manner to shorten the return stroke of the sleeve l2. Thus, as the rod l5 continues a short distance on the return stroke after the sleeve l2 has been thus arrested, the pin 2| is released and the well is hooked off. The cam 26 rides up the supporting rod 24 with which it is engaged in a manner to disengage itself from the ratchet tooth 22' when the trigger 33 releases the pawl 28. By inserting the supporting rods 24 of the slide 25 in the desired openings 23, and through the medium of the threaded connection of the rod 36 with the ear 3'! on said slide 25, the

necessary adjustment may be made to meet various conditions in the well. r 7 It is believed that the many advantages of a hook-ofi device constructed in accordance with the presentrinvention will be readily understood, particularly by thoseskilled in the art to which the invention pertains, and although a preferred embodiment of the invention is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:- 1. A hook-off device for pump jack power lines comprising a supporting structure, a sleeve opera ble in said supporting structure and adapted to be connected to a pump jack, a rod slidable in the sleeve and adapted to be connected'to a source of power, means releasably connecting the rod to the sleeve for actuating said sleeve in one direction, means for arresting movement of the sleeve in the opposite direction for releasing the connecting means, means operable by the sleeve for releasably securing the arresting means in inoperative position, and means for yieldingly maintaining the sleeve out of engagement with the last-named means;

2. A hook-off device for pump jack power lines comprising-a supporting structure, a sleeve operable in said supporting structure and adapted to be connected to a pump jack, a rod slidable in the sleeve and adapted to be connected to a source of power, means releasably connecting the rod to A the sleeve for actuating said sleeve in one direction, a pawl mounted on the supporting structure and operatively engageable with the sleeve for arresting movement of said sleeve in the opposite direction for releasing the connecting means, means for releasably securing the pawl in inoperative position, coacting means on the sleeve and the supporting structure for actuating the last-named means to inoperative position for releasing the pawl, and means on the supporting structure for yieldingly maintaining said coacting means in disconnected relation. 3

3. A hook-on device for pump jack power lines comprising a supporting structure, a sleeve operable in said supporting structure and adapted to be connected to a pump jack, a rod. slidable in the sleeve and adapted to be connected to a source of power, means releasably connecting the rod to the sleeve for actuating said sleeve in one direction, a pawl pivotally mounted on the supporting structure and engageable with the sleeve for arresting movement of said sleeve in the opposite direction, a trigger for releasably securing the pawl in disengaged position, a member slidably mounted on the supporting structure and operatively connected to the pawl for actuating said pawl to inoperative position, means on the sleeve engageable with said member for actuating the trigger to pawl releasing position, and means on the supporting structure foryieldingly maintaining the last-named means out of engagement with said member. 7

4. A hook-oil device for pump jack power lines comprising a supporting structure, a sleeve opera ble in said supporting structure and adapted to be connected to a pump jack, a rod slidable in the sleeve and adapted to be connected to a source of power, means releasably connecting the rod to the sleeve for actuating said sleeve in one direction, means for arresting movement of the sleeve in the opposite direction for releasing the connecting means, means operable by the sleeve for releasably securing the arresting means in inoperative position, rollers slidably mounted on the supporting structure and engaged with the sleeve and with the rod and spring means cooperating with the rollers for yieldingly maintaining said sleeve out of engagement with the last-named means.

THEODORE J. ADKINS. 

